Subbed! Vegas has changed a lot since 2011 but I’m sure you will have a blast OP!

Since you're staying at the Venetian, I'd suggest Yardbird and Bouchon for breakfast/brunch.


There are a ton of dinner options.

Day one - Travel Day

As I suspect will be the theme this week I was wide awake at 5am with excitement levels turned up to 11. IÂ’d been packed for a couple of days and after seeing my eldest son off to school and a quick an unsuccessful last minute trip for some new trainers, I was off to the airport.

With driving conditions mimicking climate change disaster movie drove to Heathrow Airport parking and still arrived in plenty of time, for a quick shuttle to Terminal 3.

After bag drop and security I grabbed something to eat before boarding and I took my position in 60A for what turned out to be an uneventful, but quicker than expected 9 hour and 20 minute flight to Harry Reid International Airport.

Despite the best efforts of the Customs queuing situation, I arrived at the Venetian just after 8pm. A $20 for the guy at the check in desk and I was upgraded to a Strip view room on the 25th floor with late checkout.

The room in the Venetian Tower is great, spacious, clean with everything I need for the next 7 nights. Also, not too much of a walk to the elevators which can be a pain at other hotels from memory.

Priority one was a shower, but this was hotly followed by my desire to get down to the Poker Room. A swift visit to the Rewards desk (where my details were still in the system despite the 11 year gap in visits) and I was soon sat down at a $1-$3 table.

My first session was pretty uneventful. A couple of loose calls had me down about $280 at one point and I was worried shaking off the rust was going to cost me dearly on day one, but I recovered with a nice semi-bluff and a couple of shoves in good spots to end down just $30 after 2 and a half hours at the table.

Tiredness began to tap me on shoulder and I figured IÂ’d had just one hours sleep in the last 28 and so headed back to my room about midnight.

Despite initially zonking out, I write this at just before 5am with jet lag deciding it would like to be a full fledged participant for my journey.

Today brings a tournament after Wynn, but first a trip to the gym so that I can justify what I will imagine will be a hearty breakfast.

wow, I was the first to comment and sub your first trip and even recognised the title when it just popped up here (first time in this forum for over a year for me)

resubbed and looking forward too this, make sure you get some hours in at the Wynn $1/$3 game with its deeper buy in.

good luck!

Day two - It’s not how you start….

My first action of the day was to try and outrun my jet lag with a trip to the Venetian’s fitness centre (which is very nice by the way). An hour and 7 miles later I feel pretty good and head back to shower and get ready for the day ahead.

I head down to the Grand Lux cafe and tuck into some eggs Benedict before a quick trip back to the room and back out to the Wynn.

After a bit of walking around trying to get my players card I stroll into the poker room at the Encore. It’s pretty empty but it doesn’t take long to get a $1-$3 game going and I buy-in for $300.

I play for about three hours on a very friendly and chatty table with lots of good conversation and a friendly atmosphere. My $300 goes up and down over the course of the three hours until I’m felted with 22 v QQ on a Q2x flop. That’s the way it is sometimes I guess.

Coincidentally the daily $200 tournament I wanted to play today is starting just 15 minutes after I bust out so sign myself up and sit down at table 24.

The tournament is great with a nice structure. There are a couple of fellow Brits at my table and we chat throughout. Unfortunately two of us bust close together….just never managed to get it going and was riding a short stack for quite a while.

I’m $500 down on the day and it’s only 3pm and the tiredness is beginning to catch up to me. I walk back to the Venetian and grab myself a few hours sleep before showering and getting changed for the evening.

I stop for dinner at Black Tap which is excellent before having a wander south along the strip. I wander into Harrah’s with the intention of stopping by the Piano Bar, but it’s packed so I settle for dusting off $200 at video poker.

I decide to end the day back at the $1-$3 table at the Venetian and things take a turn for the profitable.

About 15 minutes before I’m due to call it a day, I’m dealt JJ and get a couple of callers. On a J22 flop my eyes light up as one of the guys shoves….unfortunately it’s for his last $30.

The good news is another J hits on the river which meant I smashed the half hourly $300 high hand bonus AND the $600 November quad jacks bonus. The bad news is I only get 70% of each because no don’t have an ITIN number. Still, I walk away with $630 which I’m very happy with considering the events of the day.

I call it a night….kind of. This is another 5am update so that’s how the sleep is going.

I assume the 30% is a tax withholding? Is there a way for you to recover that by filing some paperwork?

Yeah that correct. I can claim it back but it means a WHOLE lot of paperwork by the look of it.

Venetian are demanding ITINs for $300 and $600 bonuses now?!?

That's bullshit and I would be recommending all foreigners stay away if that's the case. It's $1200 for slots and $5000 for table games so why is poker those amounts?

Day three - A bit of everything

I start the day waking yet again at 4:30. I watch some TV knowing there was no chance of getting back to sleep.

I head out at around 6:15 over to the Mirage where I need to pick up my rental car. I’m early and the desk isn’t open so I grab a Starbucks and wander the casino until I can pick up my car and drive 35 minutes west to Red Rock Canyon.

I started walking the Calico Hills trail but went off track a little, which is code for ‘I got lost’.

I walked for almost three hours and it was absolutely fantastic. The canyon is stunning. Off trail the terrain is pretty challenging and there were a few times I was climbing with hands and feet to get where I needed to go. It was so peaceful and just the break I wanted for a few hours.

After doubling back to the car I drove the scenic loop before dropping the car back at the Mirage.

A shower later and I was back out the door and took and Uber to the MGM Grand where I sat in a $1-$2 game for a few hours, coming away up around $150.

I walked over the the sports book and put down $50 each on the Titans and Las Vegas Golden Knights against the spread before heading into the sports bar to grab something to eat and watch the first half of the Packers/Titans games.

I left about 6:15 and walked across the street to T Mobile where I watched my first ever hockey game. It was a really good experience and more than met my expectations. The Golden Knights obliged with a win and covered the spread while the Titans did the same at Lambeau. Winner winner.

Exhausted from the game (which was loud as hell), I decide to walk north back to the Venetian where I pretty much pass out. Another great day in Vegas.

Sounds like a fun day! Great job on the sport bets!

Days four and five - one up, one down

Another 4am wake up sees me on the treadmill at 6am before some French toast for breakfast and an Uber to Aria.

I really like Aria’s poker room and liked it even more after a 2 hour session saw me leave up $170.

After a quick pit stop back at my room I decide I needed more poker in my life and headed down to the Venetians poker room and enjoyed a really good three hour session, this time for a $345 profit. So far, so good.

I decided that it was time to head down town so after a shower and freshen up I grab an Uber to Circa where I have a really fantastic meal at 8 East. Short rib steamed dumplings and brisket fried rice really has me thinking I may go back before my trip is done.

I walk Fremont for a bit and it has a really good vibe. There’s a band playing and everyone’s in good spirits.

I head into Four Queens to play some blackjack where I light a match to $95 after about an hour or so. I then tick off one of the goals of the trip and play some live craps which was a lot of fun. I ended that session down $35 but it was well worth it.

I Uber is back to the Venetian where I play a little video Craps….the one with the two big dice in the middle and turn a $93 profit.

Tired after another long day I head to bed with a healthy profit on the day.

——

The following day wasn’t nearly as productive at the poker table. I head to the Wynn to play the $300 but arrive about 90 minutes early so decide to sit down in a $1-$3 game where I proceed to lose $240.

The tournament doesn’t go well and I bust after 5 levels. I just can’t seem to get anything going in the tournaments and haven’t managed to hold an above average stack in either of the ones I’ve played so far. I think I may stick to cash for the rest of the trip.

Slightly dejected I take myself away from the gambling for a while. I stop by Tacos el Gordo which is great and then wander the Fashion Show Mall for gift inspiration before heading back to my room.

The broken sleep catches up with me and I fall asleep until about 10pm but get up, get showered and head out.

I decide to walk it to the Bellagio and buy into the $1-$3 where I manage to win a big pot almost immediately.

Under the gun I have KK and raise, getting the BB to call. The flop comes K23 rainbow. I decide to slow play and it goes check check to a 5 on the turn.

Checked to me I bet and get raised big. Looking at the pot and the stack sizes I shove and get snapped off by 67. For the first time that day, the poker gods smile down on my and put another 5 out there on the river. Easy game eh?

I scoop a $620 pot which stays where it is until the table breaks and I decide to cut and run.

Not quite ready to go back to my room, I wait in line at Secret Pizza at the Cosmopolitan and then grab a drink at the Piano Bar at Harrah’s. It’s a really good atmosphere in there and I enjoyed it a lot.

That was me done for the day. The big pot at the Bellagio minimising some of the days losses and after some quick calculations I realise I’m still in the black for the trip.

Edit. Was a K34 board

We knew that. Don't sweat the small stuff when posting TRs.

Day six - Football Sunday

Another start means I’m heading down to the casino early and throw $100 back into the Vegas economy on video Craps.

After breakfast at the Grand Lux I study the days football games and lay some bets before making my way over to the Westgate for the action.

As well as the sports book, the Westgate shows all the games on giant screens in the International Theatre every Sunday so that’s where I station myself for the next few hours watching the early slate of games and the first half of the late slate.

I go 2-3 in the early, (damn Jets) with the Bengals my solitary win in the afternoon slate of three games.

A little screen blind I Uber is back to the Venetian and back to my room to watch the rest of the afternoon slate from the comfort of my bed before getting up, changed and down to Noodle Asia for some dinner.

Resorts World is next on the list of poker rooms I wanted to visit so Uber it north and sit down in a new $1-$3 game. It’s a nice atmosphere and we’re rooting for a guy at our table who has a huge parlay on the line….all he needs is the Chiefs to cover. Ouch.

His misery is compound when he and I, along with the guy to my left get involved in a big pot.

To cut a long story short, three of us get it all in pre flop… AA v KK v JJ. I’m holding the aces and am hugely relieved when the dealer puts one out immediately and I scoop an $800+ pot.

After a little more play the table ends up breaking and I decide to book my win. I make a quick trip to Westgate to pick up some football winnings before heading back to the Venetian and playing some break even poker for a couple of hours.

Another long day ends and I hear up for what would be my final full day in Vegas.

Really good stuff - didn't realise they'd renamed McCarran airport

Yep racism and antisemitism no son buenos

Penultimate day - Here, there and everywhere

For once the early start is in my favour as I get up and head straight down to the Venetian sports book to watch England v Iran in the World Cup. With England 3-0 to the good at half time I decide to head to the gym and watch the second half while running on the treadmill.

After a good run and 6-2 victory for the Three Lions I shower and walk south along the strip to Ocean One in the Miracle Mile shopping mall for breakfast.

I walk back after some bacon and eggs and a $1-3 game is just getting started back at the Venetian so decide to sit in. The game is packed with regulars trying to get their hours up for the three-monthly cash game tournament which starts in just over a weeks time. The game is super tight and it should have been a really good opportunity to win some money, instead I lose $240 after getting too attached to top pair.

A little annoyed with myself I decide to leave the poker for a while and walk to the Fashion Show mall to do some gift shopping.

A successful trip is rewarded with a bit of a rest back in the room before another shower, change and early start to the evening activities.

I walk back to the MM and to Blondies where I enjoy the first half of the Cardinals and 49ers and a burger. I soon realise the $100 I put down in the Cardinals +10 was probably the worst wager I’d made all week.

At half time I walk across the street to the Aria where the poker room is absolutely heaving with action. I get myself sat down in a $1-$3 game. I play some break even poker before, for the second time this week, I flop a set, get ****ed by a made straight in the turn only to suck out by filling up on the river. I double up and erase the losses from the morning poker session.

I end the day with a drink at the bar at the Aria, before another pit stop at the Harrah’s Piano Bar. Exhausted yet again, I head back to my room to zonk out with the grim prospect of my final day ahead of me.

Final day - Sad face

Not to be outdone, it’s another 4:30 start so I’m up early and decide to pack my suitcase and laze around for a while.

I head out and walk south to Mon Ami Gabi for breakfast which is a great place to sit and people watch over some bacon and eggs.

I return to the hotel and despite having late check out, decide to hand back my keys and bag into the bell desk early and walk back to the Wynn for one last session.

Having had zero luck there on the trip, I feel like I need to exorcise some demons so sit down at a $1-$3 table.

About 2 and a half hours in I’m slightly down and feel destined not to have a winning session there until I’m dealt KK, firing three barrels and getting a call from a guy who couldn’t beat my hand. No idea what he had….it meant that I booked a small profit of $43 on the session.

For my last few hours I have another wander along the strip before heading over to Yardbird for some chicken and waffles and to the Cheesecake Factory for dessert in the Forum Shoppes at Ceasars.

I make a sad walk back to grab my suitcase and Uber my way back to the airport and my flight home….thankfully I manage to sleep about 7 hours on the plane which makes the journey slightly more bearable.

It’s been another fantastic trip to Vegas. I managed to play at least a few hours of poker at all the poker rooms I wanted to visit and overall, I booked a gambling profit of just over $400. I would have snapped your hands off for any kind of profit at the beginning of the week.

Vegas has changed since my last visit in 2011, but not much. The talk at the tables is still friendly and good humoured. Poker players are poker players and we still have a lot to say and more in common than not.

The poker was great, as was the food and the people and I had an absolute blast. Who knows if I’ll make it over again, but if I don’t, I’ll have fond memories for a lifetime.

Thanks for taking us along on the journey, I really enjoyed following the TR.

Know the feeling man, as I am having my final day today.

Don't think we crossed paths at the poker tables, but it sounds like you had a enjoyable trip despite not getting to play with a live ATM like me

Hopefully I can also get 7 hours of sleep on the flight home!

Was really fun to run into you several times, 4 or 5 times? Small world really haha.

Great to meet you. Yeah we seemed to keep running into each other. Thankfully I don’t think we tangled in any pots

Good luck with the rest of your trip. Hope it’s profitable!!

This reminded me of the trip I took in September. I went out for my 40th and persuaded some friends to come with me. Three of us rented bikes and cycled out from Vegas, round the scenic route and then back again. It's safe to say I underestimated how tough the first half of the route would be, that's not an easy climb on a bike!



The views were absolutely stunning though, and the easy downhill ride all the way back into Vegas was great fun. I've already booked a return trip next year and I'm very tempted to repeat the ride. Thanks for an amazing trip report, it sounds like a blast!